Playbooks
Quick Reference
Breakdown
FB Dive out of the Near Close Flex set is a straight downhill run play that hands the ball to the fullback for an immediate north-south attack through the A or B gap. The offensive line blocks a standard inside zone scheme, with the near TE and flexed personnel occupying the edges while the interior linemen climb to the second level. This is a pure run play designed to punish light boxes and slow-flowing linebackers, with the primary read being the fullback identifying the first crease off the double team up front.
Defensive Reads
Watch linebacker depth before the snap, if both backers are stacked tight to the line at 3 to 4 yards this play has a low ceiling since the crease closes fast. Identify whether the defense is in a run-blitz look with safeties crashing down, since an extra defender filling the A gap can blow this up for a loss. Key the defensive tackles post-snap, if they are getting immediate penetration off the double team the fullback has nowhere to go and the play dies on contact. Look for user-controlled linebackers spying the middle, a smart defender sitting in the hole can erase this play entirely regardless of blocking. This play struggles against odd-front looks with a nose tackle head up on the center, since that alignment clogs the primary gap this run is designed to hit.
Usage Tips
Check the defensive box count before the snap, this play is most effective against 6 or fewer defenders in the box since the fullback has almost no room to make people miss.
Use FB Dive on early downs in short yardage or goal line situations where defenses are more likely to sit in a two high shell expecting play-action or a pass.
If the defense shows a heavy blitz look with linebackers crashing downhill, consider hot routing the fullback path away from the bubble to avoid a free hitter in the backfield.
Pair FB Dive with HB Inside and FB Dive Weak to keep the defense guessing on run direction, then mix in PA Read Special once the defense starts cheating linebackers up to stop the dive.
Avoid calling this on third and long, the low ceiling on this play makes it a bad fit once you need explosive yardage.
